Latch operating mechanism for dump cars and the like



March 27, 1951 E. o. LUNDE 25459897 LATCH OPERATING MECHANISM RoR DUMPCARS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 9, 194.7

E. O. LUNDE LATCH OPERATING MECHANISM FOR March 27, @Si

DUMP CARS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1947 Mwah 27, H95lE. 0. LUNDE LATCH OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DUMP CARS AND THE LIKE 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 9, 1947 W550/wey Patented Mar. 27. 1951 LATCHOPERATING 'MECHANISM FOR DUMP CARS AND T HE LIKE Einar 0. Lunde,Wyckoff, N. J., -assignor to Magor Car Corporation, New York, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application January 9, 1947, Serial No. 721,121

7 Claims.A

'ered Juiy 13th, 1945, which has matured into Patent No. 2,430,517,November 11, 1947, I disclose latch operating mechanism for the doors ofdump cars which includes yieldable means for normally actuating thelatches to door latching position and power operable means for releasingvthe latches against the action of the yieldable means. The structure inaccordance with this application is an improvement over that disclosedin my copending application.

The power operable means in the structure of my co-pending applicationin common with that of the present application is located beneath thedump car and which under most circumstances is satisfactory in thereleasing of the latches. It may, however, be of distinct advantage toVeffect release of the latches from a posi- 'tion'above the bottom of thecar and without the requirement for power means.

It i saccordingly a primary object of this invention to provide latchoperating mechanism for top hinged swinging doors on dump cars whichincludes power operable means for releasing normally closed latchestogether with manually operable means for effecting release of thelatches independently of the power operable means.

' A further object of the invention is the provision of a safety lockfor restraining release of the latches by either the power or manuallyoperable means.

Y A still further object of the invention is the provision of latchoperating mechanism for top hinged doors of dump cars which is simple inconstruction, reliable in operation, and which is capable of beingconstructed at relatively low cost*A l l The above, together with otherobjects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in thecourse of the following detailed description, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig; 1 is a fragmental top plan view of the improved latch operatingmechanism in positionl on the bottom of a railway dump car, the baseframe 'of the car being shown in dot-and-dash lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View in the planes ofirregular line 2 2, Fig. 1, por'- Ations being broken away and thelatches being in latching position.

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but with the latches inunlatching position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view in the plane of line 44, Fig. 1, showing the latch operating mechanism in locked position andparticularly illustrating the safety lock mechanism'.

Fig. 5 is' a view corresponding to Fig. 4 but with the latch operatingmechanism in unlocked position, and the safety lock released.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the safety lock in lockingposition.

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6 but with the safety lock inunlocking position.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the safety lock as shown in Fig. 7.

yReferring now in detail to the drawings Where'- in the invention isillustrated in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, Fdesignates the base frame of a railway dump car which is proe Ividedwith doors D on each side thereof. The

frame and doors are shown in dot-and-dash lines for greater clarity ofthe latch operating mechanism.

At this point, however, it is to be understood that the doors D arehinged at their tops or upper ends as disclosed in my co-pendingapplication and are so hinged as to close by gravity upon a horizontalposition of the car.

The plan view of Fig. 1 is substantially that of one-half of a car Aandwith the manually operable means and safety lock mechanism disposedintermediate the ends of the car, or at the extreme right in Fig. Landthe number of doors D at each side of the car may vary as well as thenumber of latches cooperating with the free lower end of each door.

An operating shaft I0 is disposed at each side `of the longitudinalcenter line of the car and each shaft is rotatably journalled inbearings I I, `I2 and I3 which are rigidly supported from the centralportion F' of the frame as indicated, and the shafts preferably extendsubstantially the full length of the car.

Each shaft I0 is operatively connected with a plurality of latches I4which as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 are each in the form of a bell.crank piv-l oted to a bracket I5 atv the juncture of its two 3 arms asindicated at I6. One arm of the bell crank terminates in a keeper lug I1for engaging a member I8' secured to the lower end of the door. Thebrackets I5 are rigidly secured lo the lateral sides F of the car framewith the lugs I1 extending laterally thereof and as indicated in Figs. 2and 3.

The free end of the other arm of the bell crank of each latch ispivotally connected at I8 to a yoke member I9 having a threaded andadjustable connection with one end of a rod 20 whose opposite end ispivotally connected at 2l between the outer ends of arms 22 which arerigidly secured to the shaft I0.

Thus upon consideration of Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen thatoscillation of shaft I0 will rock the latch about its pivot I6 to eitherthe latched position of Fig. 2 or the unlatched position of Fig. 3. i

A power operated means is provided for each A.shaft I0, and each isidentified by the character 25.A vThe means 25 for the two shafts I0 areshown as transversely alined as indicated in Fig. 1, however they may bepreferably disposed in diag- Vonally disposed relation whereby eithermay be operated from one point on the dumper regardless of which way thecar is turned.

Each shaft operating means 25, as is more clearly indicated in Figs. 2and 3, comprises a horizontal support 26 which in turn supports theshaft bearing I2.

Rigidly carried by the support 25 and frame portion F in verticallydisposed position is a `cylinder 21 having` a plunger rod 28 verticallymovably disposed therein, and a coiled spring 29 is disposed within thecylinder 21 in surrounding relation to the plunger rod 28, the springacting to normally urge the rod 28 downwardly as in Fig. 2.

A lever 30 is pivoted intermediate its ends to the upper end of theplunger rod, as at 3I. and

one end of the lever is pivotally connected at 32` to a bracket 33secured to the frame portion F'.

The opposite end of the lever 30 is pivotally 'connected at 34 to oneend of a link 35 whose opposite end is pivoted at 36 to one end of arms31, whose opposite ends are secured to the shaft I0. The lever 39 ispreferably longitudinally slotted at 3| for reception of pivot 3lwhereby to provide for free swinging movement of lever 30 about thepivot 32.

The disposition of the parts 21 to 31 indicated in Fig. 2 is therelation when the latches are in latched position wherein arms 22 aresubstantially horizontally disposed and the rods 20 are moved laterallyoutward in urging the latches fclockwise into latched position.

The springs 29 normally maintain the parts including the latches in theposition of Fig. 2, suitable stop means being provided to limit downwardmovement of rods 28.

To release the latches by power, the plunger rod 28 at one or the otherside of the car may be raised as by a hydraulic jack or by rigid cammeans as disclosed in my co-pending application.

l Upon raising the rod 28 the shaft I0 will be rotated counter-clockwiseby the lever 30, link 35 and arms 31, as in Fig. 3, with a correspondingupward movement of arms 22 and the release of the latches by the rods20.

' Upon relieving the plunger rods 28 of upward pressure by means of thehydraulic jack or rigid cam, the compressed spring 29 will move the'shaft I IJ clockwise and thereby move the latches 4 to their latchedposition indicated in Fig. 2. The latches according to the presentinvention are capable of being retracted by manual means which, asindicated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, comprises a bar 48 disposed at each sideof the car or frame F and normally positioned parallel with the car sidewall as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. Each bar 4U is pivotally connectedat 4I to a bracket 42, and the bar is formed at its free end in the formof a handle 43 for hand grasping by an operator.

Each bar 48 is maintained in normal inoperative vertical position bymeans of a link 44 supported by a stirrup 45 secured to the car sidewall and the link by sliding engagement with the stirrup detachablyengages the handle 43 as indicated in Fig. 4.

Each bar 4u is flexibly connected as by a chain 4 5 to one end of a rod41 extending through a guide 48, and whose opposite end is pivotallyconnected at 49 to the outer ends of arms 50 which are rigidly connectedto the shaft IU.

Thus it will be seen that the shafts I0 are capable of being rotated bythe handle bar 40 as well as the power means 25, and that when theshafts are operated by the power means the chains 45 permit movement ofrods 41 toward the handle bars 4d without affecting same.

It is, of course, to be understood that when the shafts I5 are rotatedby manipulation of the handle bars 4l) the plunger bars 28 are movedupwardly against the action of springs 29 which later move the latcheskto latched position.

The invention further includes novel means for locking the latchoperating shafts I0 against rotation and such means comprises avertically disposed horizontally elongated lock plate 52 rigidlyattached to one end of a rod 53, whose opposite end is pivotallyconnected at 54 to the free end of an arm 55 which is rigidly connectedto shaft I0.

A bracket 56 is rigidly supported by each car side wall, and the bracketincludes a horizontal plate 51 provided with vertically disposedapertured flanges 58. A bolt 59 is slidably and rotatably disposedwithin the apertures of the anges 58, and is provided with amanipulating handle 60.

The lock plate 52 is slidably disposed on the plate 51 and is providedwith an aperture 6I for receiving the bolt 59 when aligned with theapertures in the flanges 58.

The right hand shaft I0 is locked against rotation in Fig. 4 wherein thebolt 59 is extended through the aperture 6| as is also indicated in Fig.6. The plate 51 is provided with a notch 82 in its front edge whichreceives the bolt handle 69 when the bolt is in locking position. Torelease the safety lock, the handle 60 is grasped and rocked upwardlyout of the notch 62 whereupon the bolt 59 is moved axially out of theaperture @I as in Figs. 5, '1 and 8, thereby freeing shaft I9 forrotation either by the power operated means 25 or the manually operatedbar 40.

It is to be particularly observed from Fig. l that the manual operatingmeans and safety lock for either shaft le is disposed in adjacency atthe side of the car adjacent the other shaft I0 which is provided withsimilar manual operating means and a safety lock at the other side ofthe car.

In operation, the car is positioned in a dumper. A hold-down device isthen attached to the car at the side which is to be raised for dumping,and the thus held side is then raised by suitable the other, or lowerside of the car.

rllhe safety lock is then released by withdrawal of the bolt 551 afterwhich the latches I4 at the low side of the car are released either bymeans 25 or upon pulling the handle bar 4U.

From the above it will be apparent that there is provided a latchoperating mechanism for railway dump cars well adapted to perform itsintended functions, and while the invention has been described indetail, it will be apparent that numerous changes may be made in thespecific construction disclosed, and it is contemplated to cover allsuch and to be limited in this respect only as may be necessary withinthe scope of the sub-joined claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. In a latch operating mechanism for a railway dump car having a doorhinged at its upper end for outward swinging of its lower end, and alatch engageable with the lower end for normally retaining the doorclosed, a shaft extending lengthwise of the car and rotatably sup-portedbeneath the door thereof, operative connections between the shaft andlatch for closing the latch upon rotation of the shaft in one directionand releasing the latch upon rotation of the shaft in the oppositedirection, yieldable means normally urging the shaft in said onedirection, power operable means connected with the shaft for rotationthereof in said opposite direction against the action of said yieldablemeans; the improvement comprising a hand operable 1car pivotalliTSupported by a side of the car, and operable connections between the barand said shaft for rotation thereof in said opposite diu rection forreleasing the latch, said operable connections including a flexiblemember permitting rotation of the shaft by the power operable means insaid opposite direction.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said operable connectionscomprises a rod extending transversely of the car beneath the floorthereof, arms rigid with the shaft and projecting radially therefrom,one end of said rod being pivotally connected to said arms, and a chainproviding said flexible member having one end thereof connected to theopposite end of said rod and the other end thereof connected to saidbar.

3. Latch operating mechanism for a railway dump car having a door hingedat its upper end for outward lateral swinging of its lower end, and alatch engageable with the lower end for normally retaining the doorclosed, comprising a shaft extending lengthwise of the car and rotatablysupported beneath the oor thereof, operative connections between theshaft and the latch for closing the latch upon rotation of the shaft inone direction and for releasing the latch upon rotation of the shaft inthe opposite direction, yieldable means normally urging the shaft insaid one direction, and power operable means connected with the shaftfor rotation thereof in said opposite direction against the action ofsaid yieldable means, said power operable means comprising armsprojecting radially from the shaft, a link having one end thereofpivotally connected to the arms, a lever having one end thereofpivotally connected to the other end of the link, the other end of thelever being pivotally connected to a rigid support, and a verticallydisposed plunger having its upper end pivotally connected to said leverintermediate the opposite ends thereof.

4. The structure according to claim 3, together with a cylinder rigidlysupported beneath the car floor and in which said plunger isreciprocally dispo-sed and said yieldable means is disposed in saidcylinder and bears on said plunger for normally urging same downward.

5. In a latch operating mechanism for railway dump cars including ashaft rotatably supported by the frame of the car beneath the floorthereo; the improvement comprising an elongated rod disposed beneathsaid floor, and an arm rigid with the shaft and projecting radiallytherefrom, a pivotal connection between one end of said rod and saidarm, and a safety lock mechanism supported by a side wall of the caroperatively associated with the opposite end of said rod for selectivelypermitting rotation of said shaft or locking same against rotation,

6. The structure according to claim 5, wherein said safety lockmechanism comprises a vertically disposed and horizontally elongatedapertured lock plate rigid with said opposite end of the rod, a pair ofvertically disposed apertured flanges between which said plate isslidably disposed, and a manually operable bolt engageable in theapertures in said plate and said flanges for locking said rod againstmovement.

7. The structure according to claim 6, together with a third aperturedvertical flange, said third flange and one of said -pair of angesproviding support for the bolt when withdrawn from the aperture in saidlock plate, and a horizontal plate at the bases of said flanges, amanipulating handle extending radially from said bolt, and a notch insaid plate for receiving said handle when the bolt is in lock plateengaging position.

EINAR O. LUNDE.

REFERENCES CTED IThe following references are oi record in the ile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,226,583 Wolfe et al Dec. 3l,1940 2,353,319 Joy July 11, 1944 2,430,517 Lunde Nov. 11, 1947

